Side Effects of the Web

As if there wasn’t already more mental illness than we’re willing to fund the treatment for, new branches on the tree are sprouting. These are created, fed or facilitated (depending upon your point of view) by the internet.

Extensive studies have not pinned down a lot of the aspects. Aside from the ethereal nature of the subject, factors include recency, fast growth and lack of funding for studies.

One burgeoning area we’re seeing in the waiting room is internet addiction. Symptoms include frequent checking of email, staying on longer than planned, camping on the net when you should be doing your job or housework, using the web to escape or block out disturbing aspects of your life, anxiety when away from the web/relief when you log on, loss of sleep due to late night log-ons, unsuccessful attempts to cut back time or to stay away from certain sites, relationship neglect due to time on the web, great number of web sites/chat rooms per log-on and defensiveness/denial about time you spend on the internet. Almost all web users will relate to some of these. Five or more indicate you could have a serious problem.

The major subgroups of addicts include chat rooms, virtual relationships, pornography, gambling, games, shopping/auctions, and compulsive surfing. There’s diversity of opinion on whether the internet creates these problems or exacerbates existing illness. The relative anonymity can alleviate inhibitions and allow true tendencies to run freer than interpersonal contact.

For instance, chat room addicts are associated with low self-esteem, social isolation, impulse control problems, risk taking and/or other schizotypy. They post a much higher than average number of messages on a good number of sites. But, the symptoms they present are also associated with mental illnesses that manifest themselves without benefit of the internet.

Another area on the rise is cyberstalking. This breaks down into those who stalk people they know and those who target people they don’t know (e.g. celebrities or people encountered on the web). Related behavior is cyber-slander and cyber-bullying.

Stalkers of strangers tend to hang on longer and escalate. Those of known people usually fizzle out, except where a serious pathology prolongs their obsession.

This segment has drawn a lot of attention, perhaps because of the victim aspect. Legislation has been proposed, law firms have developed and marketed specialties, and victim assistance organizations have emerged. Hopefully, funding of studies and treatments isn’t far down the road.

Whether the problems above are created by the web or just augmented is somewhat academic. The point is that they are on the rise. Lives are being ruined by the addictions (not just those of the addicts, but those of people associated with them). The web facilitates the deviant intents and behavior of the stalkers, slanderers and bullies, adding to that pool.

If you exhibit the symptoms of the addict, free yourself from the control of the web. More than that, the addiction isn't the problem. It's the underlying pathology you need to deal with. Seek professional help. You are far from alone, so there is no stigma in your illness. Only in not having the courage to face it.

If you’re the victim of a stalker, slanderer or bully, go to the support web sites. They have numerous resources you can access and good advice fro dealing with these individuals. If you are on the other end, you are undoubtedly leading a troubled life. Get professional help and alleviate your suffering.

And, when your county mental health levy comes up for a vote, support it. It is much cheaper to fund treatment than repetitive encounters with the criminal justice system.